JP3748278B2 - Skin contact device - Google Patents

Description

【００１０】
高齢者は一般に皮膚の含水率が低く、従って、接触抵抗Ｒ _Ｃ （＝Ｒ_Ｃ１＋Ｒ_Ｃ２）、皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓは、共に高くなる。
皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓは、金属正極／半導体負極間の距離を短縮することによって、小さくすることが出来る。従って、高齢者や重症患者には、高い理論発生起電力Ｅ_Ｔを与える材料組合せ、及び皮接治療具のデバイス形状の工夫（皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓ、及び接触抵抗Ｒ_Ｃ（＝Ｒ_Ｃ１＋Ｒ_Ｃ２）を低減する工夫）を行えば効果的である。
ところが、生体の皮膚インピーダンスは極めて変化しやすい性質をもつ。
特に、本発明者らは、前記生体電池の適用試験の過程で、生体電池の皮接通電によって筋肉、神経系組織が生理活性化されると、皮膚インピーダンスが著しく低下する現象を、独自に発見した。
通常、皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓは、正負電極方向に測定して１０〜５０ＭΩ／ｃｍ、両電極の接触抵抗Ｒ_Ｃ（＝Ｒ_Ｃ１＋Ｒ_Ｃ２）は、１〜１５ＭΩ／ｃｍであるが、前記生体電池の皮接によってコリや痛みが緩解した患者の皮接前後における皮接箇所の皮膚インピーダンスを測定してみると、皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓ、及び接触抵抗Ｒ_Ｃが、共に５０〜９５％程度低下していることが認められた。これは、皮膚呼吸など新陳代謝の活性化によって皮膚内のイオン導電度が局部的に高まったことに起因するものと考えられる。
【００１１】
理論発生起電力Ｅ_Ｔは基本的に変化しないので、式（１）によれば、生理活性化の結果、意図せざる皮膚内電流値Ｉの増加（２〜２０倍の増加）がもたらされることになる。このような大幅な電流値の増加は、皮膚組織に対する過剰刺激をもたらす。したがって、皮膚の弱い患者はアレルギー反応を起こし、発赤や掻痒感を訴えることがある。つまり、コリや痛みの治療と引換えに、皮膚損傷を引起こす場合が散見されたのである。
これに対しては、勿論、当初から理論発生起電力Ｅ_Ｔの小さな組合せを選択すれば対処出来るが、理論発生起電力Ｅ_Ｔが小さい組合せでは、通電効果が限定されるので、高齢者や重症患者には治療効果が薄くなるおそれがないではない。
以上の問題点は、本発明者らによって、独自に発見されたものである。
【００１２】
【発明の目的】
それ故、本発明の第１の目的は、皮接中に生理活性化して皮膚インピーダンスが低下しても、皮膚損傷を起こす可能性の小さな金属正極／半導体負極形生体電池皮接治療具を提供することにある。
本発明の第２の目的は、安価でディスボーサブルな生体電池形皮接治療具を提供することにある。
【００１３】
【目的を達成するための手段】
本発明は、第１の皮接面を持ち、少なくともこの皮接面が貴金属又はその合金から成る第１の導電性鉱物（１）と、
この第１の導電性鉱物（１）に近接して配置されると共に、第２の皮接面を持ち、少なくともこの皮接面がｎ型半導体から成る第２の導電性鉱物（２）と、
第１、第２の導電性鉱物（１）、（２）の非接領域間を電気的に結ぶ保護抵抗と、
を具え、上記貴金属又はその合金とｎ型半導体との組み合わせは、貴金属又はその合金の標準単極電位がｎ型半導体の標準単極電位よりも相対的に大となるように選択したものとし、
上記保護抵抗の値は、生理活性化後の過電流抑制用であって上記標準単極電位差に基づく起電力と生理活性化後の皮膚インピーダンスとに基づいて設定した値とし、上記第１、第２の皮接面が同時に皮接して用いられる皮接治療具を開示する。
【００１４】
前記第２の皮接物質は、安価でディスボーザブルな皮接具を実現するために、酸化物半導体であり、前記第２の導電性鉱物２は、これらの酸化物半導体を構成する金属元素であることが好ましい。
酸化物半導体は、例えば酸化インジウムＩｎ_２Ｏ_３、酸化アンチモンＳｂ_２Ｏ_５、酸化錫ＳｎＯ、酸化亜鉛ＺｎＯ、酸素欠損型酸化アルミニウムＡｌ_２Ｏ_３−Ｘ、酸素欠損型酸化バナジウムＶ_２Ｏ_５−Ｘであり、
第２の導電性鉱物２は、例えば、酸化インジウムＩｎ_２Ｏ_３に対してはインジウムＩｎ、酸化アンチモンＳｂ_２Ｏ_５に対してはアンチモンＳｂ等であることが好ましい。
更に、前記保護抵抗３を有する皮接具に、磁場を付与することが出来る。磁場の強さは、皮接時に前記第１の皮接物質から皮膚内に注入された電子、及び前記第２の皮接物質から皮膚内に注入された正孔の運動に影響を及ぼす程度の強さとする。
【００１５】
【作用】
第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）と第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）とを保護抵抗Ｒを介して、それぞれの非皮接部位で電気接続すると、皮接時に図３のような閉回路が形成されるため、電流Ｉが流れる。電流Ｉは、次の式（３）又は（４）で与えられる。
（Ｒ＋Ｒ_Ｃ１＋Ｒ_Ｃ２）Ｉ＝Ｅ_Ｔ−Ｒ_ＳＩ （３）
Ｉ＝Ｅ_Ｔ／（Ｒ＋Ｒ_Ｓ＋Ｒ_Ｃ１＋Ｒ_Ｃ２） （４）
ここに、皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓ及び接触抵抗Ｒ_Ｃ１、Ｒ_Ｃ２は可変である。そして、前記したように、Ｒ _Ｓ ＞＞Ｒ_Ｃ２＞＞Ｒ_Ｃ１である。
そこで、保護抵抗Ｒを皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓ程度の大きさに選んでおくと、式（４）から解る様に、生理活性化によって皮膚インピーダンスが１桁程低下したとしても、電流は、高々２倍程度の増加にとどまり、過電流の通電による皮膚損傷を避けることが出来る。
保護抵抗を、導電性フィラーを分散した樹脂で形成し、第１の導電性鉱物と第２の導電性鉱物とをこの樹脂で接着して外部回路接続とした正負極一体化構造の生体電池はコンパクトであり、ワンタッチで皮接出来る。
【００１６】
第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）の皮接面が酸化物半導体被膜、その基板がこの酸化物半導体を構成する金属元素で形成されていると、皮接した時、前記したイオン浸透器とは異なる振舞いをする。このような二重構造は、正極金属甲（第１の皮接物質）より標準単極電位の低い（電子親和力χの小さな）金属の表面を酸処理することによって、その表面に容易に厚さ１μｍ以下の金属酸化膜を生成して得ることが出来る。一般に負極皮接面に形成される半導体内の高電界領域（ショットキー障壁に起因する空乏層領域）幅は、１〜３μｍに達するので、前記のような金属酸化物半導体皮膜では、皮接時膜全体が空乏層化していることになる。
【００１７】
図３に示したように、保護抵抗Ｒを入れて電気的閉回路を形成すると、導電性鉱物Ｂ（負極）から導電性鉱物Ａ（正極）側へ熱的励起された電子ｅ⁻が流出後内部電界に偏倚された正孔ｈ^＋は極めて速やかに皮膚内に注入されるが、イオン浸透器のように半導体イオン（Ｓ^＋）が剥離して注入されることはない。これは、酸化物半導体においては金属と酸素のイオン結合力が強いためである。むしろ、電子が流出して正に帯電すると、化学的に活性になり、金属の界面で酸化反応が促進される。そして酸化物半導体の膜厚は速やかに本来の高電界領域幅であるほぼ１〜３μｍまで肥厚する。この厚さ以降も酸化は徐々に進行し、共有結合性の半導体でみられるような半導体イオンの皮接面からの剥離は、ほとんど生起しないと考えられる。
前記したような金属の表面処理によって形成した酸化物半導体負極を用いれば、生産コストが安くなり、安価でディスポーザブルな皮接治療具の形成が可能となる。
【００１８】
図４は、外部回路に保護抵抗Ｒを入れて正極と負極とを電気接続した生体電池に、皮膚内に注入される電子及び正孔の運動が影響を受ける程度の磁場Ｈを付与した場合の電子、正孔の動きを模式的に示したものである。
図４において、生体電池電極（導電性鉱物Ａ、Ｂ）近傍の皮膚内には、一様な強度の磁場Ｈが図示した方向（紙面の表側から裏側へ向かう方向）に印加されているものとする。この時、正極下皮膚内に注入される電子ｅ⁻及び負極下皮膚内に注入される正孔ｈ^＋は、電磁力の作用を受けてそれぞれ図示した方向へ円運動をする。その半径ｒは、磁場強度Ｈに反比例し、皮膚内浸透速度と電子質量（又は正孔質量）に比例する。この円運動によって電子の還元作用及び正孔の酸化作用は、それぞれの電極外部分へ広がるため、還元及び酸化生成物質の局所濃度が薄まり、それだけ電池の逆起電力（減極作用）が起きにくくなる。
【００１９】
【実施例】
本発明による皮接治療具の第１の実施例について説明する。
図５は、同第１の実施例を皮接した状態におけるその断面図である。
図５において、１は第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）、２は第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）、３は保護抵抗、４は絆創膏又は貼着布、５は皮膚である。
第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）１は、直径６ｍｍ、厚さ２ｍｍの真鍮円盤の一の面の中央部に、高さ３ｍｍの突起１_ｒを設け、該突起１_ｒを有する面（の全部又は一部）に金メッキを施して成るものである。この場合、第１の皮接物質（皮接物質甲）は、金（１８Ｋ）である。
そして、円盤１の中央部に位置する突起１_ｒは皮接部を構成し、突起１、を除く円盤部分は導電部を構成する。
第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）２は、外径６ｍｍ、内径２．５ｍｍ、厚さ
１ｍｍの亜鉛製円環の表面を、酸処理によって、厚さ約０．５μｍの酸化亜鉛被膜に変えて成るものである。この場合、第２の皮接物質（皮接物質乙）は、ｎ形半導体の酸化亜鉛である。
保護抵抗３は、カーボン粉末を分散させた抵抗率１０_８Ω／ｃｍのエポキシ系樹脂を、前記第１の導電性鉱物１の有突起面側の平坦部に、約１ｍｍの厚さで塗布してなるものである。保護抵抗３の抵抗値Ｒは、例えば１０ＭΩ（皮接開始時の皮膚インピーダンスにほぼ相当する値）である。
保護抵抗３と第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物）２との接着は、前記樹脂が乾燥する前に、前記樹脂の上に第２の導電性鉱物２を、図示したように、載置することによって、行われる。
皮接治療具である生体電池の外部回路は、保護抵抗Ｒを介して接続される。皮接する前に前記第１の導電性鉱物１と第２の導電性鉱物２の両端で測定した保護抵抗３の抵抗値は、約１０ＭΩであった。
【００２０】
第１の実施例の治験結果について説明する。
前記の皮接治療具を絆創膏４で肩コリ患者の患部皮膚５に圧接して、効き目を調べた。
治験は、同一人に対して３ケずつ同時に３日間貼着して行なった。
被験者男女７５名に対してそれぞれ年代別に著効、有効、無効を調べた結果を下記表１に示す。
【００２１】
【表１】

【００２２】
前記表１によれば、有効治験率、即ち著効数と有効数とを加え、これを被験者総数で除した値は、８２．７％であることが解る。
また、皮膚発赤や掻痒感などの皮膚トラブルは、６．７％であることが解る。
【００２３】
第１の実施例に係る、第１の対比例について説明する。
本発明との対比のために、第１の導電性鉱物と第２の導電性鉱物とを、保護抵抗を介することなく、導電性ペーストで直接的に接着し（従って外部回路をほぼ短絡状態となし）、同様な被験テストを行なった。
この場合の有効治験率は、約８５％で、第１の実施例よりも若干高くなっていたが、皮膚トラブル数は、増加し、約１７％に達した。
【００２４】
前記表１に示した若干の皮膚トラブルを詳しく検討して見たところ、明らかに絆創膏３による軽度の接触性皮膚炎の場合が大部分で、通電刺激による電極周辺のトラブルは少なかった。
これに対して、保護抵抗Ｒを用いない場合（比較例）の皮膚トラブルの半数以上（被験者の７０％以上）は、通電刺激によるものと認められた。
これを要するに、本発明の第１の実施例は、保護抵抗３を導入することによって、通電刺激による皮膚トラブルを、導入前に比べて、約１／４〜１／５に減少させ得たことが明らかである。
皮接部位における皮接治療具の外部取出起電力は、０．６〜１．２ボルトに達しているが、保護抵抗３の抵抗値Ｒ、例えば約１０ＭΩ（皮接開始時の皮膚インピーダンスにほぼ相当する値）が、生理活性化後の過電流を抑制しているのである。保護抵抗３を導入したことの効果は明らかである。
【００２５】
本発明の皮接治療具の第２の実施例について説明する。
図６は、同第２の実施例の皮接治療具の構成を示す図であって、同図（Ａ）は上面図、（Ｂ）は側面図である。
図６において、１は第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）、２は第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）、３は保護抵抗、４は貼着布、５は皮膚である。
第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）１は、錫の薄いフィルム表面に厚さ約２μｍのロジウムがメッキされたものである。
第２の導電性鉱物２（導電性鉱物Ｂ）は、錫の薄いフィルム表面に厚さ０．５μｍの酸化錫薄膜が蒸着されたものである。
貼着布４は、適当な大きさ、例えば５０×５０ｍｍ^２位とする。その周縁部は皮接部位として機能する。
【００２６】
保護抵抗３は、酸化インジウムＩｎ_２０_３を分散させたポリイミド膜層から成っておって、その厚みは、約０．５ｍｍ、抵抗率は１０_６Ω／ｃｍ程度である。
この場合、保護抵抗値Ｒは、第１の導電性鉱物１と第２の導電性鉱物２の間で、例えば０．５ＭΩ程度と成る。
保護抵抗３の層は、貼着布４の粘着面の非皮接領域全面に、図示のように、塗布されて成る。
保護抵抗３のポリイミド樹脂が乾燥する前に、帯状の第１の導電性鉱物１及び第２の導電性鉱物２を、図示の如く、交互に且つ規則正しい間隔をおいて、ポリイミド樹脂層に貼付する。第１の導電性鉱物１及び第２の導電性鉱物２の幅は各々例えば２ｍｍ、間隔は例えば１ｍｍとする。
保護抵抗３のポリイミド樹脂が乾燥すれば、完成品となる。
【００２７】
第２の実施例の治験結果について説明する。
皮接治療具を、貼着布４の皮接部位を利用して、コリや痛みのある箇所に皮接する。
そうすると、ｎ形酸化錫→保護抵抗３→ロジウム→皮膚→ｎ形酸化錫という電気的閉回路が形成され、生体電池が発電し、通電刺激が皮下組織に加えられる。
この場合、保護抵抗値Ｒは、第１の導電性鉱物１と第２の導電性鉱物２との間で、０．５ＭΩ程度である。
第２の実施例の皮接部位における外部取出起電力は、０．３〜０．７ボルトであり、第１の実施例の場合よりかなり低いため、保護抵抗値Ｒが１桁低くても、治験における皮膚トラブルは、被験者の約５％程度しか発生しないことが確かめられた。
第２の実施例の皮接治療具は、広い面積と柔軟性を有するため、一枚で広い患部をカバー出来るという特色がある。この皮接治療具を腰痛患者に適用した治験では、有効治癒率は７０％を越えた。
【００２８】
第２の実施例に係る、第２の対比例について説明する。
比較のために、第２の実施例における保護抵抗Ｒを除去し、この部位に錫箔を敷いて導電ペーストで接着した皮接治療具を作成して、第２の対比例とした。
これによって、治験を行なったところ、皮膚トラブルは被験者の２０％にものぼった。
これを要するに、本発明の第２の実施例は、保護抵抗３を導入することによって、通電刺激による皮膚トラブルを、導入前に比べて、約１／４に減少させ得たことが明らかである。
【００２９】
本発明の皮接治療具の第３の実施例について説明する。
図７は、同第３の実施例の断面図である。
図７において、１は第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）、２は第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）、３は保護抵抗、４は貼着布、５は皮膚である。
第３の実施例の構成部材１〜５は、第１の実施例のそれと同じサイズであり、第１の導電性鉱物１と第２の導電性鉱物２との正負極材料組合せは、第１の実施例のそれと同じであるが、第１の導電性鉱物１は、図示の如く、端面で着磁されている。
即ち、第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）１は、直径６ｍｍ、厚さ２ｍｍ、中央部に高さ３ｍｍの突起を有する焼結フェライト円盤の突起のある面側に、厚さ３μｍの金メッキ（１８Ｋ）を施した後、円盤円周の対向する１組の方向に着磁したものである。磁束密度は磁極近傍で１２００ガウスであった。
第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）２は、亜鉛製円環の表面に、酸処理によって酸化亜鉛膜を形成して成るものである。
保護抵抗３は、導電性フィラー（添加材）としてのカーボン粉末を分散して成るエポキシ系樹脂である。
【００３０】
この皮接治療具を皮接すると、皮膚内では、図示した方向に、磁場Ｈが印加されることになる。
前記した１２００ガウスの磁束密度は、生体電池正極である金（１８Ｋ）から皮膚内に注入される電子ｅ⁻、及び負極であるｎ形酸化亜鉛半導体から皮膚内に注入される正孔ｈ^＋の運動方向に、電磁力を作用させるに充分な大きさの磁場強度を与える。
その結果、皮接した時に正極から注入される電子は、図示したように紙面背面から手前方向へ、また負極から注入される正孔はその逆方向へ円運動を描いてシフトする。従って、正極下及び負極下のキャリア密度が低くなり、その分だけ電極の外側へ酸化還元領域が広がるため、酸化・還元物質の電極下蓄積による分極が減少し、長時間皮接によっても起電力の低下が避けられるという利点がある。
【００３１】
第３の実施例の治験結果について説明する。
第３の実施例の皮接治療具を用いて、男女各年代の多数の被験者（被験者総数７５名）に対する肩コリの治癒実験を行なった。
第１の実施例の場合と同様に、各人３個ずつ３日間貼着して、著効数と有効数の合計を被験者総数で除することにより、有効治癒率を算定した。
その結果、有効治癒率は、約８９％であった。皮膚トラブルは、第２の実施例と同様に、約５％の低水準に止まった。
有効治癒率が第１の実施例の場合より高まった原因として、磁場付与の効果が考えられる。コリや痛みの治癒をもたらす物理的刺激はこの場合、ツボ圧接効果（指圧効果）、通電効果、磁気効果の三つが相乗していると考えられる。
【００３２】
そこで、比較のために、市販の磁気治療器（磁束密度１２００ガウス）を用いて、同じ被験者による皮接テスト（肩コリ治療）を行なった。この場合も、３ケ／人、３日間貼着して治癒結果を調べた。この結果、有効治癒率は約３７％であった。
上記三つの物理刺激が単純に一次結合して治癒効果を示すものと考えると、以上の治験データから治癒効果に与える各物理刺激の寄与は、指圧効果分が３４．５％、通電効果分が５７．５％、磁気効果分が８％となる。
【００３３】
本発明の皮接治療具の第４の実施例について説明する。
第４の実施例は、第１の実施例を一般化したものである。
第４の実施例の皮接治療具は、
第１の導電性鉱物と第２の導電性鉱物と保護抵抗とから成り、
第１の導電性鉱物又は第２の導電性鉱物の何れか一方は、皮接部と導電部とから成り、
前記皮接部の皮接面と該皮接面に連なる導電部表面との間には、段差が設けられ、
前記何れか一方の導電性鉱物の前記導電部と前記保護抵抗と他方の導電性鉱物とはこの順で積層され、且つ機械的、電気的に接続され、
前記何れか一方の導電性鉱物の前記皮接部と、前記他方の導電性鉱物とは、同時に皮接して用いられる。
第４の実施例のその余の事項は、第１の実施例と同様である。
【００３４】
本発明のその他の実施例について説明する。
（イ）第１の導電性鉱物１は、少なくとも皮接面が、前記した金Ａｕ及びその合金、ロジウムＲｈなどの他、白金ｐｔ、イリジウムＩｒ、パラジウムＰｄ、銀Ａｇやこれらを含む合金を用いることが出来る。
原理的には、貴金属以外の標準単極電位の高い金属、例えば銅Ｃｕを用いることも勿論可能であるが、酸化し易いため、長期連用には耐え得ない。
（ロ）第２の導電性鉱物２は、少なくとも皮接面が、前記した酸化亜鉛ＺｎＯや酸化錫ＳｎＯ以外の金属酸化物半導体、例えば酸化インジウムＩｎ_２Ｏ_３や酸化ビスマスＢｉ_２Ｏ_３、酸素欠損型酸化アルミニウムＡｌ_２Ｏ_３−Ｘ等であっても良いし、非酸化物のｎ形半導体、例えばｎ−Ｇｅや、ｎ−ＳｉＣ等であっても良い。
【００３５】
（ハ）保護抵抗３は、導電性フィラー分散樹脂以外に導電性高分子層を用いることも出来るし、或は無機抵抗を用いることも可能である。
（ニ）保護抵抗３は、また、両端に印加される電圧によって抵抗値が可変となる材料、例えば導電性をもつ液晶を電極板に挟んで用いることなども可能である。
このような可変抵抗は、生体電池の作用で皮下組織が生理活性化し、皮膚インピーダンスＲ_Ｓや接触抵抗Ｒ_Ｃが急激に低下した時、生体電池の外部回路取出し電圧が高くなるのに対応して抵抗値を大にする機能をもたせると、皮下組織が不活性な場合（コリや痛みがある場合）は低抵抗で大電流が流れ、コリや痛みが治癒すると高抵抗化して通電電流を抑えることが出来るので、保護抵抗値Ｒとしてより好ましい。
（ホ）保護抵抗３の適正抵抗値Ｒは、正極材料と負極材料の組合せによっても異なるが、皮膚インピーダンスの大きさと皮接実験データから経験的に割り出された値として、０．１〜５０ＭΩの間の適当な値を選べば良い。
以上の実施例は、本発明の精神の範囲内において、種々なる改変を施すことが出来る。従って、本発明の範囲は、これらの実施例に止まるものではない。
【００３６】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、生体電池皮接治療具の長時間皮接によって、コリや痛みの治癒の結果発生する皮膚インピーダンスの急激な低下に起因して惹起される発赤や掻痒感等の皮膚トラブルを、低率に抑制することが可能になった。
そのために、高起電力を生ずる正極材料と負極材料の組合せの選択が可能となり、コリや痛みの治療に、より効果的な皮接治療具を提供することが可能となった。
また、金属の表面処理による酸化物薄膜半導体負極の形成を利用して、安価でディスポーザブルな皮接治療具の提供が可能になった。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】半導体の負極を使用した生体発電皮接治療具の等価回路を示す図である。
【図２】同生体発電皮接治療具の動作原理を説明するための図である。
【図３】本発明の皮接治療具の等価回路を示す図である。
【図４】本発明の皮接治療具の動作原理を説明するための図である。
【図５】本発明の皮接治療具の第１の実施例の断面図である。
【図６】同第２の実施例の構成を示す図である。
【図７】同第３の実施例の断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 第１の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ａ）
１_ｒ 突起
２ 第２の導電性鉱物（導電性鉱物Ｂ）
３ 保護抵抗
４ 絆創膏又は貼着布
５ 皮膚[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a skin contact treatment device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a skin treatment device effective in resolving indefinite complaints such as shoulder stiffness and back pain.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the number of patients suffering from chronic stiffness and pain has increased as the lifestyle has become more complex and the elderly have increased. The main cause is said to be local fatigue of muscles and nerves.
The source of muscle and nerve fatigueBecauseAlthough it varies from person to person and to a different extent, it is often a chronic illness when the cause is in daily life rather than a transient thing like muscle fatigue due to sports. If stiffness or pain is severe, you will have to rely on physical and acupuncture treatments at the hospital, but even if it is relatively mild, it is accompanied by discomfort (indefinite complaints) in daily life. Development is required.
[0003]
Conventionally, as a treatment tool for stiffness and pain in the home, a poultice, a hot spring, a metal particle, a magnetic treatment device, a low frequency treatment device, etc. have been developed and marketed. All of these have been developed with the aim of promoting blood circulation in the affected area and purifying the waste substances that have accumulated locally.
Among them, poultices, hot acupuncture, and magnetic treatment devices have the effect of vasodilation, the low frequency treatment device has the physical treatment effect by regularly stretching and relaxing muscles, and the metal particles are used for meridian and acupuncture treatment in Oriental medicine. It is intended.
On the other hand, the present inventor has developed ion penetrators that can heal muscle and nerve fatigue by energizing stimulation with weak DC electromotive force when a biological battery is formed during skin contact (Japanese Patent No. 1388949, Japanese Patent No. 1247360). No. 1631137, utility model 1922166, etc.).
These ion permeators are more effective than the above-described home treatment tools for the treatment of stiffness and pain.
[0004]
Similar to the above-mentioned ion infiltration device, a treatment device for forming a biological battery using a combination of dissimilar metals of an external circuit short-circuit type is disclosed (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-103743).
The inventor of the present inventor is a device in which a semiconductor crystal and a metal having a higher standard unipolar potential are conductively connected to each other to make skin contact. To.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the difference between the two skin connectors.
FIG. 2A shows the principle of a biological battery using a metal positive electrode / semiconductor negative electrode combination. That is, in this biological battery, electrons that have flowed from the semiconductor negative electrode to the metal positive electrode flow into the skin, which is an electrolyte, from the metal positive electrode and reduce (for example, Fe ions distributed in the body³⁺+e ⁻ → Fe²⁺At the same time, holes generated in the semiconductor negative electrode with insufficient electrons drift due to the internal electric field of the Schottky barrier generated on the skin contact surface and concentrate on the skin contact surface of the semiconductor crystal, and the semiconductor atoms on the skin contact surface Is ionized. Since the internal electric field acts to peel off cations and holes from the semiconductor negative electrode, the dissociated semiconductor ions penetrate into the skin together with the holes. Holes oxidize in the skin (eg Fe ²⁺ + H⁺→ Fe ³⁺ ) Is generated.
In addition, the Schottky barrier on the skin-contacting surface functions to prevent electrons and anions from flowing into the semiconductor from the skin, so that the negative electrodeOxidationThe action (cation separation and hole loss) continues stably, and the electromotive force continues stably for a long time.
[0005]
On the other hand, in a skin fitting made of a combination of different metals (for example, a combination of Cu / Zn), electrons flow out from the metal B toward the metal A having a higher electron affinity χ as shown in FIG. Metal B has a shortage of electronsbandElectricity (χ_A> Χ_B). However, since metal B does not form a Schottky barrier on the skin contact surface, negative ions OH derived from moisture distributed on or near the skin surface⁻Enters the surface layer of metal B and quickly adsorbs and combines. As a result, a hydroxide is formed on the skin contact surface of the metal B.
For example, in the Cu / Zn combination, the skin contact surface of the metal B Zn,
Zn ²⁺ + 2OH⁻→ Z _n (OH)₂
The following reaction occurs.
These hydroxides of base metals are oneGeneralTherefore, the resistance of the surface of the metal B becomes high and the electromotive force becomes unstable, and power generation stops with an increase in the hydroxide layer thickness. This is the surface passivation phenomenon.
[0006]
In the metal positive electrode / semiconductor negative electrode combination, as shown in FIG. 2A, reduction product ions (for example, Fe) under the positive electrode are used.²⁺) And oxidation product ions (eg Fe) under the negative electrode³⁺) Are diffused to create an effective flow of ionic charges in the skin in the direction shown in the figure, and the shortage of ions in each region is compensated.
On the other hand, in the combination of different metals, as shown in FIG. 2B, reduction product ions (for example, Fe) generated under the positive electrode are formed.²⁺) Ions to be reduced (for example, Fe)³⁺) Is not compensated from under the semiconductor negative electrode, so that there is also a drawback that back electromotive force tends to be generated due to a gradual shortage of ions to be reduced.
As described above, the metal positive electrode / semiconductor negative electrode type biological battery in which the external circuit is short-circuited exhibits stable oxidation / reduction action after skin contact, and thus stable electromotive force. There are few, and it is highly effective as a practical tool for treating stiffness and pain.
[0007]
[Problems of the prior art]
The metal positive electrode / semiconductor negative electrode type biological battery, whose operation is described with reference to FIG. 2 (A), continuously applies electrical stimulation to muscle and nervous system tissues with a stable electromotive force, and effectively eliminates stiffness and pain. I can do it. Since the causes of chronic stiffness and pain are usually in the daily life of each patient, if the treatment action is stopped even if the therapeutic effect is temporarily exhibited, the stiffness and pain often return again. Therefore, the above-described biological battery is often used for a long time.
By the way, the theoretically generated electromotive force of the biological battery is determined by the material combination of the metal positive electrode and the semiconductor negative electrode and the chemical energy sum of various oxidation (under the negative electrode) and reduction (under the positive electrode) reaction in the skin. Therefore, when the same person touches the same place, the electromotive force, and hence the energization stimulus value, can be adjusted by the material combination.
[0008]
The theoretically generated electromotive force is expressed in voltage and E_TWhen considering a closed circuit at the time of skin contact as shown in FIG. 1, the external electromotive force E taken out between the metal positive electrode and the semiconductor negative electrode is
E ≒ (R_C1+ R_C2) I = E_T-R_S  I (1)
It becomes. Where R_SIs the impedance between electrodes in the skin, that is, the internal resistance of the biological battery (hereinafter simply referred to as “skin impedance”), and R_C1, R_C2Is the contact resistance between each electrode and the skin, R _C Is the contact resistance R_C1, R_C2, I is the circuit current.
The therapeutic effect for eliminating the above-mentioned stiffness and pain is considered to be caused by current stimulation of the biological battery. Therefore, the current I can be increased to obtain a strong therapeutic effect.
The current I is given by And generally R_C2>> R_C1It is.
[0009]
[Expression 1]

[0010]
The elderly generally have a low skin moisture content, and therefore contact resistance R _C (=R_C1+ R_C2), Skin impedance R_SBoth get higher.
Skin impedance R_SCan be reduced by shortening the distance between the metal positive electrode and the semiconductor negative electrode. Therefore, for the elderly and critically ill patients, a high theoretical electromotive force E_TCombination of materials giving skin and device shape of skin treatment device (skin impedance R_S, And contact resistance R_C(=R_C1+ R_C2It is effective to devise to reduce ()).
However, the skin impedance of a living body has a property that is very easy to change.
In particular, in the course of the application test of the biological battery, the present inventors have uniquely identified a phenomenon in which skin impedance significantly decreases when muscles and nervous system tissues are physiologically activated by skin contact energization of the biological battery. discovered.
Usually, skin impedance R_SIsMeasure in the positive and negative electrode direction10-50 MΩ / cm, contact resistance R of both electrodes_C(= R_C1+ R_C2) Is 1 to 15 MΩ / cm, and skin impedance R is measured by measuring the skin impedance at the skin contact site before and after skin contact of the patient whose skin and pain are relieved by the skin contact of the biological battery._S, And contact resistance R_CHowever, it was recognized that both were reduced by about 50 to 95%. This is considered to be due to the local increase in ionic conductivity in the skin due to the activation of metabolism such as skin respiration.
[0011]
Theoretical electromotive force E_TSince basically does not change, according to the formula (1), the increase in the in-skin current value I (2 to 20 times increase) is brought about as a result of physiological activation. Such a large increase in current value results in overstimulation of the skin tissue. Therefore, patients with weak skin may develop an allergic reaction and complain of redness and pruritus. In other words, in some cases, skin damage was caused in exchange for the treatment of stiffness and pain.
For this, of course, the theoretically generated electromotive force E from the beginning._TCan be dealt with by selecting a small combination of_TIf the combination is small, the energization effect is limited, so there is no risk that the therapeutic effect will be diminished for the elderly and critically ill patients.
The above problems were uniquely discovered by the present inventors.
[0012]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a metal positive electrode / semiconductor negative electrode type biological battery skin treatment device that is less likely to cause skin damage even if the skin impedance is lowered due to physiological activation during skin contact. There is to do.
The second object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and disposable biobattery type skin contact treatment device.
[0013]
[Means for achieving the objectives]
  The present invention comprises a first conductive mineral (1) having a first skin contact surface, at least the skin contact surface being made of a noble metal or an alloy thereof,
  A second conductive mineral (2) disposed adjacent to the first conductive mineral (1) and having a second skin contact surface, at least the skin contact surface being made of an n-type semiconductor;
  A protective resistor for electrically connecting the non-contact areas of the first and second conductive minerals (1) and (2);
  And the combination of the noble metal or its alloy and the n-type semiconductor is selected so that the standard monopolar potential of the noble metal or its alloy is relatively larger than the standard monopolar potential of the n-type semiconductor,
  The value of the protective resistance is for overcurrent suppression after physiological activation and is set based on the electromotive force based on the standard unipolar potential difference and the skin impedance after physiological activation. Disclosed is a skin treatment device in which two skin contact surfaces are used at the same time.
[0014]
The second skin contact material is an oxide semiconductor in order to realize an inexpensive and disposable skin joint, and the second conductive mineral 2 is a metal element constituting these oxide semiconductors. It is preferable that
An oxide semiconductor is, for example, indium oxide In₂O₃Antimony oxide Sb₂O₅, Tin oxide SnO, zinc oxide ZnO, oxygen deficiencyTypeAluminum oxide Al₂O_3-XOxygen deficiencyTypeVanadium oxide V₂O_5-XAnd
The second conductive mineral 2 is, for example, indium oxide In₂O₃Indium In and antimony oxide Sb₂O₅Is preferably antimony Sb or the like.
Furthermore, a magnetic field can be applied to the skin connector having the protective resistance 3. The strength of the magnetic field is such that it affects the movement of electrons injected from the first skin contact material into the skin and holes injected from the second skin contact material into the skin during skin contact. Strength.
[0015]
[Action]
First conductive mineral(Conductive mineral A)And second conductive mineral(Conductive mineral B)Are connected to each other through the protective resistance R at each non-skin contact portion, a closed circuit as shown in FIG. 3 is formed at the time of skin contact, so that a current I flows. The current I is expressed by the following formula (3Or4).
(R + R_C1+ R_C2) I = E_T-R_SI (3)
I = E_T/ (R +R_S+ R_C1+ R_C2()4)
Where skin impedance R_SAnd contact resistance R_C1, R_C2Is variable. And as mentioned above, R _S >> R_C2>> R_C1It is.
Therefore, protective resistance R is skin impedance R_SIf you choose a size of about, formula (4As can be seen from the above, even if the skin impedance decreases by an order of magnitude due to physiological activation, the current only increases by a factor of about 2 at most, and the skin damage caused by overcurrent conductionAvoidanceI can do it.
A biological battery having a positive and negative electrode integrated structure in which a protective resistance is formed of a resin in which a conductive filler is dispersed, and the first conductive mineral and the second conductive mineral are bonded to each other by the resin. Compact and can be touched with one touch.
[0016]
Second conductive mineral (Conductive mineral B)The skin contact surface of the oxide semiconductorCoveredWhen the film and its substrate are formed of a metal element constituting this oxide semiconductor, it behaves differently from the above-described ion penetrator when it comes into contact with the film. Such a double structure can be easily formed on the surface of the metal by acid-treating the surface of a metal having a lower standard monopolar potential (small electron affinity χ) than that of the positive electrode metal shell (first skin contact material). It can be obtained by forming a metal oxide film of 1 μm or less. Generally, the width of the high electric field region (depletion layer region caused by the Schottky barrier) in the semiconductor formed on the negative electrode skin contact surface reaches 1 to 3 μm. The entire film is depleted.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, when an electrically closed circuit is formed by inserting a protective resistor R, electrons e that are thermally excited from the conductive mineral B (negative electrode) to the conductive mineral A (positive electrode) side.⁻Holes that are biased to the internal electric field after⁺Is injected into the skin very quickly, but like a semiconductor ion (S⁺)ButPeelingIt is not injected separately. This is because an ionic bond strength between metal and oxygen is strong in an oxide semiconductor. Rather, when electrons flow out and become positively charged, they become chemically active and the oxidation reaction is promoted at the metal interface. Then, the thickness of the oxide semiconductor is rapidly thickened to approximately 1 to 3 μm, which is the original high electric field region width. Oxidation proceeds gradually after this thickness, and it is considered that peeling of the semiconductor ions from the skin contact surface as seen in a covalently bonded semiconductor hardly occurs.
If the oxide semiconductor negative electrode formed by the metal surface treatment as described above is used, the production cost is reduced, and it is possible to form an inexpensive and disposable skin treatment device.
[0018]
FIG. 4 shows a case where a magnetic field H is applied to a biological battery in which a protective resistor R is inserted in an external circuit and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected, so that the movement of electrons and holes injected into the skin is affected. The movement of electrons and holes is schematically shown.
In FIG. 4, a magnetic field H having a uniform strength is applied in the illustrated direction (the direction from the front side to the back side of the paper) in the skin in the vicinity of the biological battery electrodes (conductive minerals A and B). To do. At this time, electrons e injected into the skin under the positive electrode⁻And holes injected into the skin under the negative electrode⁺Undergoes circular motion in the directions shown in the figure under the action of electromagnetic force. The radius r is inversely proportional to the magnetic field strength H and proportional to the penetration rate in the skin and the electron mass (or hole mass). Due to this circular motion, the electron reduction action and hole oxidation action spread to the outer part of each electrode, so the local concentration of the reduction and oxidation products is reduced, and the back-electromotive force (depolarization action) of the battery is less likely to occur. Become.
[0019]
【Example】
  A first embodiment of the skin treatment device according to the present invention will be described.
  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment in a state of skin contact.
  In FIG. 5, 1 is the first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A), 2 is the second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B), 3 is the protective resistance, 4 is the adhesive bandage or adhesive cloth, and 5 is the skin. It is.
  The first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A) 1 has a protrusion 1 having a height of 3 mm at the center of one surface of a brass disk having a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 2 mm._rThe protrusion 1_rThe surface (all or a part of) having a surface is gold-plated. In this case, the first skin contact material (skin contact material A) is gold (18K).
  And the protrusion 1 located in the center part of the disk 1_rConstitutes the skin contact portion, and the disk portion excluding the protrusion 1 constitutes the conductive portion.
  The second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B) 2 has an outer diameter of 6 mm, an inner diameter of 2.5 mm, and a thickness.
The surface of a 1 mm zinc ring is changed to a zinc oxide film having a thickness of about 0.5 μm by acid treatment. In this case, the second skin contact material (skin contact material B) is an n-type semiconductor zinc oxide.
  The protective resistance 3 has a resistivity 10 in which carbon powder is dispersed.₈An epoxy resin of Ω / cm is applied to the flat portion on the protruding surface side of the first conductive mineral 1 with a thickness of about 1 mm. The resistance value R of the protective resistor 3 is, for example, 10 MΩ (a value approximately corresponding to the skin impedance at the start of skin contact).
  The adhesion between the protective resistor 3 and the second conductive mineral (conductive mineral) 2 is carried out by placing the second conductive mineral 2 on the resin as shown before the resin is dried. Is done by doing.
  An external circuit of the biological battery, which is a skin contact treatment tool, is connected via a protective resistor R. The resistance value of the protective resistor 3 measured at both ends of the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2 before skin contact was about 10 MΩ.
[0020]
The clinical trial results of the first example will be described.
The skin contact treatment tool was pressed against the affected skin 5 of the shoulder stiffness patient with the adhesive bandage 4, and the efficacy was examined.
The clinical trial was performed by attaching 3 pieces to the same person at the same time for 3 days.
Table 1 below shows the results of examining the effectiveness, validity, and invalidity of each of the 75 male and female subjects.
[0021]
[Table 1]

[0022]
According to Table 1, it is understood that the effective clinical trial rate, that is, the value obtained by adding the effective number and the effective number and dividing this by the total number of subjects is 82.7%.
It can also be seen that skin troubles such as skin redness and pruritus are 6.7%.
[0023]
The first comparison according to the first embodiment will be described.
For comparison with the present invention, the first conductive mineral and the second conductive mineral are directly bonded with the conductive paste without passing through the protective resistance (therefore, the external circuit is almost short-circuited). None), a similar test was performed.
The effective clinical trial rate in this case was about 85%, which was slightly higher than that in the first example, but the number of skin troubles increased to about 17%.
[0024]
A detailed examination of the slight skin troubles shown in Table 1 revealed that most cases of mild contact dermatitis due to the adhesive bandage 3 were most, and there were few troubles around the electrodes due to energization stimulation.
On the other hand, more than half of the skin troubles (not less than 70% of the subjects) when the protective resistance R was not used (comparative example) were recognized as being caused by energization stimulation.
In short, the first embodiment of the present invention was able to reduce skin troubles caused by energization stimulation to about 1/4 to 1/5 by introducing protective resistor 3 compared to before introduction. Is clear.
The external extraction electromotive force of the skin treatment tool at the skin contact site has reached 0.6 to 1.2 volts, but the resistance value R of the protective resistor 3, for example, about 10 MΩ (approximately the skin impedance at the start of skin contact). (Corresponding value) suppresses overcurrent after physiological activation. The effect of introducing the protective resistor 3 is obvious.
[0025]
A second embodiment of the skin treatment device of the present invention will be described.
6A and 6B are diagrams showing the configuration of the skin treatment device of the second embodiment, in which FIG. 6A is a top view and FIG. 6B is a side view.
In FIG. 6, 1 is the first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A), 2 is the second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B), 3 is the protective resistance, 4 is the adhesive cloth, and 5 is the skin. .
The first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A) 1 is a thin film surface of tin plated with rhodium having a thickness of about 2 μm.
The second conductive mineral 2 (conductive mineral B) is obtained by depositing a tin oxide thin film having a thickness of 0.5 μm on the surface of a thin film of tin.
The sticking cloth 4 has an appropriate size, for example, 50 × 50 mm.²And rank. The peripheral part functions as a skin contact part.
[0026]
  The protective resistor 3 is composed of indium oxide In₂0₃The thickness of the polyimide film layer is about 0.5 mm, and the resistivity is 10 mm.₆It is about Ω / cm.
  In this case, the protection resistance value R is, for example, about 0.5 MΩ between the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2.
  The protective resistance 3 layer is applied to the entire non-skin contact area of the adhesive surface of the adhesive cloth 4 as shown.
  Before the polyimide resin of the protective resistor 3 is dried, the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2 in the form of a strip are stuck to the polyimide resin layer alternately and at regular intervals as shown in the figure. . The widths of the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2 are each 2 mm, for example, and the interval is 1 mm, for example.
  When the polyimide resin of the protective resistance 3 is dried, a finished product is obtained.
[0027]
The clinical trial results of the second example will be described.
Using the skin contact site of the adhesive cloth 4, the skin contact treatment device is skin contacted to a place with stiffness or pain.
Then, an electrical closed circuit of n-type tin oxide → protection resistance 3 → rhodium → skin → n-type tin oxide is formed, the biological battery generates power, and an energization stimulus is applied to the subcutaneous tissue.
In this case, the protective resistance value R is about 0.5 MΩ between the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2.
Since the external extraction electromotive force at the skin contact site in the second example is 0.3 to 0.7 volts, which is considerably lower than that in the first example, even if the protective resistance value R is one digit lower, It was confirmed that skin troubles in clinical trials occurred only about 5% of the subjects.
Since the skin treatment device of the second embodiment has a wide area and flexibility, it has a feature that it can cover a wide affected area with a single sheet. In a trial in which this skin contact treatment device was applied to a patient with low back pain, the effective cure rate exceeded 70%.
[0028]
The second comparative example according to the second embodiment will be described.
For comparison, the protective resistance R in the second embodiment was removed, and a skin treatment device in which a tin foil was laid on this portion and adhered with a conductive paste was made to be a second contrast.
As a result, when the clinical trial was conducted, the skin trouble amounted to 20% of the subjects.
In short, it is clear that the second embodiment of the present invention can reduce skin troubles caused by energization stimulation to about 1/4 compared with before introduction by introducing the protective resistor 3. .
[0029]
A third embodiment of the skin contact treatment device of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the third embodiment.
In FIG. 7, 1 is the first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A), 2 is the second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B), 3 is the protective resistance, 4 is the adhesive cloth, and 5 is the skin. .
The constituent members 1 to 5 of the third embodiment are the same size as that of the first embodiment, and the positive and negative electrode material combination of the first conductive mineral 1 and the second conductive mineral 2 is the first. The first conductive mineral 1 is magnetized at the end face as shown in the figure, as in the first embodiment.
That is, the first conductive mineral (conductive mineral A) 1 has a thickness of 3 μm on the surface side having a protrusion of a sintered ferrite disk having a diameter of 6 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and a protrusion having a height of 3 mm at the center. After gold plating (18K), it is magnetized in a pair of opposing directions on the disk circumference. The magnetic flux density was 1200 gauss near the magnetic pole.
The second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B) 2 is formed by forming a zinc oxide film on the surface of a zinc ring by acid treatment.
The protective resistance 3 is an epoxy resin formed by dispersing carbon powder as a conductive filler (additive).
[0030]
When this skin contact treatment tool is contacted, the magnetic field H is applied in the direction shown in the skin.
120 mentioned above0 gaThe magnetic flux density of the mouse is an electron e injected into the skin from gold (18K), which is a biological battery positive electrode.⁻And holes h injected into the skin from the n-type zinc oxide semiconductor which is the negative electrode⁺A magnetic field intensity large enough to cause an electromagnetic force to act in the direction of motion of.
As a result, electrons injected from the positive electrode at the time of skin contact shift in a circular motion from the back side of the paper as shown in the figure, and holes injected from the negative electrode move in the opposite direction. Therefore, the carrier density under the positive electrode and under the negative electrode is reduced, and the redox region expands to the outside of the electrode accordingly. There is an advantage that a decrease in the amount can be avoided.
[0031]
The clinical trial results of the third example will be described.
Using the skin treatment device of the third example, a shoulder stiffness healing experiment was conducted on a large number of subjects of all ages (75 subjects in total).
As in the case of the first example, three each person was affixed for 3 days, and the effective cure rate was calculated by dividing the total number of effective and effective numbers by the total number of subjects.
As a result, the effective cure rate was about 89%. Skin trouble is the same as in the second example.likeIt stayed at a low level of about 5%.
As a cause that the effective healing rate is higher than that in the case of the first embodiment, the effect of applying a magnetic field can be considered. In this case, it is considered that the physical stimulation that brings about healing of stiffness and pain is a combination of the pressure point effect (acupressure effect), the energization effect, and the magnetic effect.
[0032]
Therefore, for comparison, a skin contact test (shoulder stiffness treatment) by the same subject was performed using a commercially available magnetic therapy device (magnetic flux density 1200 gauss). Also in this case, 3 pieces / person were pasted for 3 days to examine the healing results. As a result, the effective cure rate was about 37%.
Assuming that the above three physical stimuli are simply linearly combined to show a healing effect, the contribution of each physical stimulus to the healing effect from the above clinical trial data is 34.5% for the acupressure effect, 57.5% and magnetic effect component 8%.
0033]
A fourth embodiment of the skin treatment device of the present invention will be described.
The fourth embodiment is a generalization of the first embodiment.
The skin treatment device of the fourth embodiment is
A first conductive mineral, a second conductive mineral and a protective resistance;
Either the first conductive mineral or the second conductive mineral is composed of a skin contact portion and a conductive portion,
A step is provided between the skin contact surface of the skin contact portion and the surface of the conductive portion connected to the skin contact surface,
The conductive portion of any one of the conductive minerals, the protective resistance and the other conductive mineral are laminated in this order, and mechanically and electrically connected,
The skin contact portion of any one of the conductive minerals and the other conductive mineral are used in contact with each other at the same time.
The remaining items of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.
0034]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(B) The first conductive mineral 1 uses at least the skin contact surface of the above-described gold Au and its alloys, rhodium Rh, etc., as well as platinum pt, iridium Ir, palladium Pd, silver Ag, and alloys containing these. I can do it.
In principle, it is possible to use a metal having a high standard unipolar potential other than the noble metal, for example, copper Cu, but it cannot easily withstand long-term continuous use because it is easily oxidized.
(B) The second conductive mineral 2 has at least a skin contact surface other than the above-described zinc oxide ZnO and tin oxide SnO.metalOxide semiconductor, for example, indium oxide In₂O₃And Bismuth oxide Bi₂O₃Oxygen deficiencyTypeAluminum oxide Al₂O_3-XOr a non-oxide n-type semiconductor such as n-Ge or n-SiC.
0035]
(C) As the protective resistor 3, a conductive polymer layer can be used in addition to the conductive filler-dispersed resin, or an inorganic resistor can be used.
(D) The protective resistor 3 can also be made of a material whose resistance value is variable depending on the voltage applied to both ends, for example, a liquid crystal having conductivity sandwiched between electrode plates.
Such a variable resistance activates the subcutaneous tissue by the action of the biological battery, and the skin impedance R_SAnd contact resistance R_CIf the function of increasing the resistance value corresponding to the increase in the voltage taken out of the external circuit of the biological battery is reduced, the subcutaneous tissue is inactive (when there is stiffness or pain) A large current flows through the resistance, and when the stiffness or pain is healed, the resistance can be increased and the energization current can be suppressed. Therefore, the protective resistance value R is more preferable.
(E) The appropriate resistance value R of the protective resistor 3 varies depending on the combination of the positive electrode material and the negative electrode material, but is 0.1 to 50 MΩ as a value empirically determined from the skin impedance magnitude and skin contact experimental data. Choose an appropriate value between.
The above embodiments can be variously modified within the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.
0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, redness and pruritus caused by a rapid decrease in skin impedance caused as a result of healing of stiffness and pain due to long-term skin contact of a biological battery skin treatment device. Skin troubles such as feeling can be suppressed at a low rate.
Therefore, it is possible to select a combination of a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material that generate a high electromotive force, and it is possible to provide a skin treatment device that is more effective in treating stiffness and pain.
In addition, it has become possible to provide an inexpensive and disposable skin contact treatment device by utilizing formation of an oxide thin film semiconductor negative electrode by metal surface treatment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a bioelectric power skin treatment device using a semiconductor negative electrode.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the bioelectric power generation skin treatment device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the skin treatment device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the skin treatment device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a skin treatment device of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the second embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 First conductive mineral (conductive mineral A)
1_r  Protrusion
2 Second conductive mineral (conductive mineral B)
3 Protection resistance
4 Adhesive plaster or adhesive cloth
5 Skin

Claims (6)

A first conductive mineral (1) having a first skin contact surface, at least the skin contact surface being made of a noble metal or an alloy thereof;
A second conductive mineral (2) disposed adjacent to the first conductive mineral (1) and having a second skin contact surface, at least the skin contact surface being made of an n-type semiconductor;
A protective resistor for electrically connecting the non-contact areas of the first and second conductive minerals (1) and (2);
And the combination of the noble metal or its alloy and the n-type semiconductor is selected so that the standard monopolar potential of the noble metal or its alloy is relatively larger than the standard monopolar potential of the n-type semiconductor,
The protective resistance value is for overcurrent suppression after physiological activation and is set based on the electromotive force based on the standard unipolar potential difference and the skin impedance after physiological activation. A skin treatment device in which two skin contact surfaces are in contact with each other simultaneously.   The skin treatment tool according to claim 1, wherein the value of the protective resistance (3) is in the range of 0.1 to 50 MΩ.     The protective resistance (3) is a resistor formed by sandwiching a conductive liquid crystal between electrode plates, and is applied to both ends by a decrease in skin impedance after physiological activation as compared with that before physiological activity. The skin contact treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resistor has a large resistance value when the extraction voltage is large.   The protective resistance (3) is made of a resin in which a conductive filler is dispersed, and the first conductive mineral (1) and the second conductive mineral (2) are bonded by the resin, The skin treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the skin contact treatment device is connected to each other.   The skin according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the n-type semiconductor is an oxide semiconductor, and the second conductive mineral (2) includes a metal element constituting the oxide semiconductor. Treatment tool.   A magnetic field having such a strength as to affect the motion of electrons injected into the skin from the noble metal or an alloy thereof at the time of skin contact and holes injected into the skin from the n-type semiconductor is applied. Item 6. The skin contact treatment tool according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

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